The best moment when you enter a city for the first time is when daylight fades and the lights come on. Athens gave us exactly that. Because we arrived from Delphi and Arachova, we entered the city in the evening and got to know Athens at night. This is the Athens stop of our Greece motorcycle tour on a BMW R 1250 GS Adventure.
How did our first day in Athens go?
We had added Delphi and Arachova as waypoints, so by the time we reached Athens it was evening. In every place we visit we try to see one night and one day, so we spent the first evening on a night discovery and saw the city with its lights on. In total we stayed in Athens for two nights and three days, and we shared daily details in our Instagram stories.
What is Athens known for?
Athens is the capital of Greece and one of the best-known cities of ancient Greece. According to legend it takes its name from the goddess Athena, and it is remembered as the birthplace of democracy. The symbol of the city is the Acropolis, with the Parthenon on top. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Around it you find the ancient Agora, the narrow streets of Plaka, the Monastiraki area and Syntagma Square.
What is motorcycle traffic like in Athens?
Short answer: bad, but it cannot compare with Istanbul. There are many motorcycles and the riders are fearless. For someone used to Istanbul it is a familiar scene, but it needs attention. Keep your following distance open, check mirrors and shoulders often, and ride gently on smooth, polished surfaces, especially in the wet.
For long walking days, Rider Healthcare makes a modal sock for city days, and Galata Healthcare offers a daily body care cream. Educated Moto Riders organises motorcycle tours and trips for those who like to ride in a group.
Read the full story in Turkish with photos and videos: Atina Gezi Rehberi.